Interested in getting involved with art and the Quality of Life Department?
This page hosts open calls for artists, proposals, and volunteers across the City of Las Cruces Quality of Life Department, including museums and public art programs. Check back regularly and follow us on social media for the latest opportunities to get involved!
Open Call for Artists:
Declaration/Declaración – Call for Art
Application Deadline: Friday, June 12, at 5:00 P.M. (MDT)
This upcoming exhibit explores the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It will be a powerful investigation and expression of the diversity, complexity, and evolving story of the American experiment with democracy. The exhibition runs from November 6 to March 6, 2027.
The Call for Art is limited to artists living in New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. Qualified artists may submit up to three art pieces for consideration, in either 2-D or 3-D format. Final determination of which pieces will be selected for the exhibitions will be made by a selection jury.
In this exhibition, we are particularly interested in artwork that explores the idealism, conflict, hope, and tension of this remarkable document. This can be approached through personal, cultural, historical or symbolic lenses. The goal of this exhibition is to pose questions about the founding of the United States as a nation and how its original promises outlined in the Declaration of Independence have played out over time. The exhibition will be a powerful investigation and expression of the diversity, complexity, and evolving story of the American experience.
The diverse history of New Mexico and the Texas Borderland provides unique opportunities for this exploration. The region’s governance by Spain and Mexico for over 200 years before it became a U.S. territory in 1848 laid the groundwork for a different American experience compared to the East Coast and Midwest. For this reason alone, an investigation of the meaning of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence by regional artists will offer a distinct vision-and provide an opportunity to consider a non-traditional history of the founding of the United States and how it plays out in this region.
We encourage you to revisit the Declaration of Independence for inspiration: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
The call opens Monday, January 12 and runs through Friday, June 12. Submissions must be made using the SurveyMonkey submission form. Detailed information about the call and its requirements and the submission form can be found at the link below.
Open Call for Proposals:
COMING SOON!
The Branigan Cultural Center will be opening its yearly “Call for Proposals” on April 1. Follow us on Social Media to know more and check back on April 1 for the link to the application!
Open Call for Volunteers and Foundation Members:
Did you know that the Quality of Life department is supported by amazing volunteers from the City of Las Cruces Volunteer Network, members of the Foundation for Las Cruces Museums, and Friends of Thomas Branigan Memorial Library?
City of Las Cruces Volunteer Network
The Volunteer Network is the City of Las Cruces’ volunteer resource providing more than 350 volunteers to 39 volunteer sites at cultural sites, city services, senior programs and city departments throughout Las Cruces. You can sign up to help the museums as well as other city departments with things like events, programs, and more! For contact information and more general overview, check out http://clcstaging.lascruces.gov/volunteer
Want to become a volunteer? Click the button below and sign up through their website!
Foundation for Las Cruces Museums
The Foundation for Las Cruces Museums is a membership based, non-profit organization providing financial resources, volunteer efforts and advocacy for the Las Cruces Museum System. The Foundation assists the museums by creating public and financial support. They work to increase community attendance at the museums, sponsor programs designed to enhance the cultural life of Las Cruces and advocate for favorable legislation and appropriations. Because our museum system is part of the municipal government, programming is subject to the availability of tax revenue. The museums have limited resources to accomplish their missions and visions. The Foundation assists the museums financially by generating fundraising events and encouraging gifts and endowments.
–Information from the Foundation for Las Cruces Museums website
Want to become a member? Click the button below and sign up through the Foundation’s website!
